Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyūshū, Multi-purpose sports stadium in Asano, Japan
Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyūshū is a modern sports facility in Asano designed to host both football and rugby matches with a seating capacity of around 15,300. The venue includes contemporary facilities and separate zones for different sporting events.
The stadium was built between 2015 and 2017 on a 2.3-hectare site 500 metres north of Kokura Station, after the city chose this location over two alternatives for its transport access. The design by Azusa Sekkei was built by a joint venture of Okumura, Wakachiku and Kyudenko, and the venue opened in February 2017. Its back stand was kept small so it can later be extended over the sea toward a 20,000-seat capacity.
The stadium's name comes from Mikuni, a Kitakyushu real-estate company under World Holdings, which bought the naming rights in 2016; the city requires "Kitakyushu" in the name. The contract, signed on 27 December 2016, ran from 1 February 2017 at ¥30 million a year and has been renewed twice. When a competition's rules exclude naming rights, the official name Kitakyushu Stadium is used.
The stadium is a seven-minute walk from Kokura Station and three minutes from Kokura Port. There is no dedicated parking, so use public car parks nearby. The back stand is single-tier and uncovered, and its concourse has a "no fishing" notice because the sea is directly behind it.
The back stand was kept to one uncovered tier so the stadium can later be extended over the sea; no ball net is fitted, and the concourse carries a "no fishing" notice. The closest seats sit 8 m from the touchline behind a 65 cm fence.
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